This card originally cost 2 mana to play, but was considered overpowering, and thus was updated to a 3 mana cost in May of 2014.

Uses and Tactics:

Unleash the Hounds (UtH) is always dependent on how many minions your opponent has in play. As long as they have 2 minions in play, that puts UtH on par with something like Bluegill Warrior, and is a fine card at that. It becomes very valuable if the opponent has 3 or more minions in play and/or if you can pair it with certain cards (see next few points).

For some card advantage, playing Starving Buzzard before UtH causes you to draw a card when each beast comes into play. If your opponent has 2 minions in play, you will draw 2 cards and get your 2 1/1s with charge.

For a lot of damage out of nowhere, play UtH when your opponent has minions in play followed by Timber Wolf. This buffs all of your newly acquired hounds with +1 attack. Card advantage is gained if you manage to take 2 opposing minions out with these hounds, or a lot of damage is gained if you decide to hit their hero directly.

While not as strong as using Timber Wolf with UtH, you can also play Dire Wolf Alpha in your Hunter deck to increase the attack of your hounds. Play UtH first, then position your Dire Wolf Alpha optimally in between the hounds. If you are attacking opposing minions like this, always attack with the hounds adjacent to the Dire Wolf Alpha first. This means that when said adjacent hounds die, if you had more hounds next to those hounds, they will move into place and get the bonus to attack as well, as if you had a Timber Wolf in play the whole time.

Another useful minion to have in play as you unleash the hounds are the Raid Leaders. Having both and Raid Leader and Timber Wolf in play will boost your hounds attack by 2 points a piece.

This works will in tandem with your Scavenging Hyenas. Trading your hounds with enemy minions will boost their stats to high levels if multiple hounds are knocked out in the process.

Not using this card immediately can keep your opponent uneasy throughout the match. Paladins, Druids, and other classes with strong AoE spells will wait out the hounds as they know they are coming. Use this to your advantage.